Foundry system.



O. L. DOSCH FOUNDRY SYSTEM.

APPLICATKON FILED DEC.8.1916.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET! WI 717E88 O. L. BOSCH.

FOUNDRY SYSTEMv APPLICATION FILED mama. 19m

' Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2- IIVVENTUI?v ATTORNEY 0. L. BOSCH.

FOUNDRY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION HLED DEC.8, 1915.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3' Hllllill! 0. L. DOSCH.

FOUNDRY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION men DEC.8

' Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

6 SHEETS 0. L. DOSCH.

FOUNDRY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FIL'ED DEC-181 19:6.

1,276,039. 7 PmmAng. 20.1918.

8 SHEETS-$11? 6) /A TTORNEV UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER I. BOSCH, 0E5 ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO THE SINGER MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FOUNDRY sYsrEir.

Specification of Letters Ilatent. Patented Aug. 20, 1918 Application filed December s, 1916. Serial No. 135,752.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I,.OL1vnn L. DOSCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foundry Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. 7

This invention relates to so-called continuous foundry systems, wherein the molds are formed at a molding station and' placed upon an endless conveyor which first transports them to a pouring station, usually adjacent the cupola, and thence to a shake out station where the poured molds are removed from the conveyor and broken up to release the castings; and wherein the used sand from the shake-out station is retempercd and returned to the molding station.

While the use of a continuous system is often desirable because of the economies resulting from increased production, specialization of labor, reduction of ground-floor space, &c., it is not feasible to utilize any of the continuous systems heretofore known for the production of high grade castings for the reason, very largely, that none is arranged and equipped to efficiently, economically and properly retemper the used sandprior to its return to the molding station.

' Certain of these systems tumble the sand too much, causing it to ball or form into little pellets; others treat the sand continuously in various mixing and tempering machines, as it is shaken from the molds, with the result that the same quantity of water is applied during a certain specified period of time, whether the sand goes throu h in large quantities or small quantities, w ether it is largely composed of old sand or largely composed of new sand, and whether the molds which it formed contained castings of large size or small size, in which cases the sand would be either too dry or too wet. It is well known by those familiar with foundry practice that to secure a uniform grade of work it is essential that the sand be tempered evenly, and especially for the work in hand; that is 1f the sand is too wet for one mold and too dry for another, the castings'will not only be different in surface quality or finish, but will vary in hardness. If castings which are small and require machining are made in sand which is not prop erly tempered, some will be so hard that itwill be impossible to machine them.

()ne of the. main objects of thisinvention is to so reorganize and arrange the components parts of a continuousfoundry sys term that the used sand may be retempered and returned to the molding station in a simple, expeditious and economical manner, and in correct condition for high-class moldmg.

Another object of the invention is to provide a continuous foundry system capable of simultaneously handling two entirely dif" ferent classes of work, each requiring sand, of a particular grade or consistency, and in which each grade of sand may be tempered and returned to the molding station in correct condition independently of andmwitlrout mixture withthe other grade. P

, Another ObJGCt of the invention is topro- -vide means for supplying the molders with facing sand in an efiicient and economical manner and without unduly obstructing the floor space at the molding station.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an improved method of handling molds and their accessories in continuous foundry practice whereby a minimum amount of power will be required to operate the system, and to provide an im roved method of handling the used sand wliereby the balling tendency of the sand may be overcome, and whereby it may be thoroughly homogenized, re-vitalized, re-tempered and returned to the molding stat1on,'1n an economica] manner and 1n the correct condition for high grade molding.

' Further objects of the inventionare the elimination ofcertain undesirable features characteristic of prior continuous systems; such as, the necessity of pouring the molds while occupying positions above unpoured molds, and the frequent starting and stopping of the conveyor with its heavy load of] poured and unpoured molds. r

The foundry system hereinafter described embodies the several principles of my invene,

tion'in the bestform-which I have thus at 1 I seen fit to devise, but in presenting these- 7 several features specifically I'ddnot intend;

thereby to limit the scope of my inventiom- 7 With the above and other ob'ects'in View,

the invention comprises, in its preferred as will be more fully describe hereinafter, i

embodiment, an endless conveyor of rec- 5110 tangular form having a lower horizontal run whereon the molds are placed and poured, an ascending run Whereon the poured molds are elevated to an upper level, an upper horizontal run from-which the molds are removed and shaken out and upon which the castings and mold accessories are .replaced, and a descending run 'whereon the castings and mold accessories are lowered to the molding floor. The conveyer 1ncludes an endless link-belt to which are pivotally connected the component mold carriers or trays of a series. In the present instance means are provided for-restraining the trays against tilting or swinging while they are passing along the lower and upper-horizontal runs. Series of molding machines are'arranged alongopposite sides of the lower horizontal run, -so thatJthe moldsmay be formed in sufficient numbers to keep the trays filled, and movable'pouring': latforms are arranged at oppositesides of t e end-portion of the horizontal .run which joins the ascendingrun, so that the molds maybe poured whlle on a. horizontal run and so that. the positionsofthe pourers relatively .to :the molds may 1. ,remain fixed during the pouring roperation, asin ordinary floor pouring. I j,

Shake-out boxes or hoppers disposed at opposite sides of 'thequpper horizontal run 2 of theconveyer, serve-t0 0 nduct1 theused sand tosuitable riddles or screeningidevices placed directl .beneath their dischargeorifices. Anwexl iaust fan connectedto-these hoppers acts to draw air downwardlyinto their mouths and carryaway the 1 heated gases, steam and dust, which-otherwise would tend: ,to rise and, inconvenience =.-,t-he workmen stationed at 1 this point. From the fan the exhaust-matter isfdischarged into a moderately :large' 1 settling chamber wherein; the fine: particles of" sand are, deposited. An air-discharging.- .;vent-. .-leads from the settling yc'hamberjthmugh.thegroof ofthe building r.

The sand as'sing through each riddle is evenly distributed;-upons-a. cor-res ondin'g endless belt conveyer; .from;--.whicliqit is caused to fall to a sand tempering or'homogemzmg floor by a speciallydesigned low adapted to travel constantly back andorth along said belt at .a' relativelyislowjspeai.

The purpose of this plow isito 'scrapetthe sand from the belt in a thin layer, causing it to fall to the floor in the-formof athin sheet, thus'exposing every particle of the sand to; theicooling action of thelair and efl'ecting the liberation of mosti'of the hot gases. These sand-belts -are,:parallel and are spaced apart 'so that the sand which falls to the tempering floor will form separate and distinct parallelridges along the length of the latter. The tempering floor is equipped with one or more hose connec- A screw-conveyer is journaled to rotate in'a traveling frame which is provided with wheels enabling it to run along suitable track-ways which extend lengthwise of the tempering floor and parallel with the sandridges deposited thereon. Suitable manually controlled motors carried by the frame are independently connected to drive the latter and rotate the conveyer about the axis extending crosswise of the tempering floor. The purpose of this conveyer is to scrape the sand outwardly across the tempering floor and into a series of storage bins disposed lengthwise of said floor and carrying sand-valves at their lower ends adapted to deliver the tempered sand in measured quantities to the molding machines .on the. molding floor. The screwconveyer may be runoverthe, floor-at manually controlled intervals to repeatedly move the sand toward the sand-bins and permitit to rest intermittently.- u In; the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a; side elevation, partly insection, of the building structure (showing the various workin artsin their 'proper relative itions." 1g.-2.i's a; transverse cross-sectional view of {the building looking toward the left, Fig.- 1. Fig. 3 ;is fa. plan view of the lowerifloor show ng the layout of. the moldingand pouring? stations Fig. 4. is. a plan viewYof the equipmentat the; intermediate floor showing also a rtion of the upper floor. i Figs. 5, 6. and are detail views of the moving platform-lat the'pouring station.

Fig. 8; is va; side-= elevation of 1 one of; the

sand-valves through which the sand may: be delivered in a measured "quantities to. a the molding machines Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the mechanism at one side of the shake-.

out station'jfor screening the sand and-deviews showing deta ls of construction of the mold-conveyer and carriers. Fig. -18 "is a plan view; of the transfer-device for the traveling screw-conve er showing a the latter imposition for trans er. Fig. 19 .is a side elevation, Fig. 20 an end elevation and Fig. 21 isa reverse end-elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 18.- l I In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated, the various working prising a lower horizontal runl, Fig. 1, a vertically ascending run 2, an upper horizontal run 3, and a vertically descending run 4. The lower and upper runs of the mold-conveyer extending lengthwise of the lower and upper floors, respectively, while the ascending and descending runs extend through vertical shafts 5 and 6, respectively,-

located at the opposite ends of the building. Referring to Figs. M to 17 inclusive, the mold-conveyer comprises two parallel endless chains or link-belts 77 each of which includes a series of alternately inwardly.

and outwardly disposed pairs of spaced links 8-8 whose end-portions are connected in overlapping relation by bolts 9 upon which are journaled the rollers 10. Depending from the convcyer-chains at intervals along the length of the latter, are a series of mold-carriers, indicated generally at 11, each of which comprises a hollow transverse beam 12 to the center of which is bolted the upper flanged end of a depending tubular member s 13 which carries at its lower end a flat, horizontally disposed, moldcarrying tray 14.

Fixedly secured to and projecting from the opposite ends of the beam 12 are pivotpins 15, each of which enters-suitable bear mg apertures formed midway between the ends of a corresponding pair of links .8.

The portion of each pin 15 extending between a pair of links is surrounded by a sleeve 16 and the free ends of said pins are threaded to receive nuts 17. Each of the beams 12, together with its complement of pins 15, sleeves ,16 and nuts 17, serves as a tie-rod to maintain the chains 7, 7 in proper laterally spaced relation. A pair of flanged supporting wheels 18 are mounted to turn on hearing pins 19 which are fixedly secured in position between the adjacent a-pertured ends of a pair of spaced cross-bars 20, formed at each end ofthe beam 12. Bolted to the standard 13 of each carrier are apair. ofoppositely extending brackets 21 which may be utilized to carry certain of the mold-accessories from the shake-out floor am the molding floor;

The whecls'18, which supportthe moldecarriers 11 while traveling at the lower and upper levels, run on the parallel overhead rails 22, 22, each of which carried by the inwardly directed free end-portions of a se'- ries of depending L-shaped hangers 23 whose upper ends are bolted to longitudinally extending beams 24, 24, supported in any suitable manner. At the horizontal runs the chains 7, 7 merely serve to pull the mold-' mold-carriers 11 are suspended entirely from the chains 7, 7 and are free to swing about the pivot pins 15, as shown in Fig. 11. Mounted within each of the similar shafts 5, 6 surrounding the vertical-runs, are two pairs of opposed vertical rails 25, 26, Fig.

16, which form "uidewavs for the rollers 10 of the chains 7, 7. At the ascending run 2 the lower and upper end-portions of these guide rails are curved on arcs of concentric circles and terminate in short flared extensions 27,v 27. At the receiving end of the ascending run 2 the rollers 10 enter between the extensions 27, 27 and are gradually drawn into rolling contact with the then upper rail 26. Near the discharging end of the ascending run 2 the rollers 10 bear against a similarly curved portion of the rail 26. Just before the rollers'10 leave the rails 25, 26, the

carrier-wheels 18 ride upon the horizontal rails 22 at the upper run 3 and again resume their supporting function.

At the end'of the upper horizontal run 3 the chains 7, 7 run overthe driving sprockets-28, 28 which are mounted upon theshaft 29 journaled in the framework 30 supported by the upper floor. A suitable motor M is belted to a counter-shaft 31 which, in turn,

is belt-connected to a series of speed-reducing gears 32, 32 connected to the sprocketshaft 29. From the sprocket-wheels the rollers 10 pass between the spaced pairs of guide-rails sustained within the shaft 6 and are guided during their descent to the lower At the molding station E, Figs. 1 and .3, at each side ofthe lower horizontal run of the. conveyer, 1s a series of molding machines 33 of well known construction, wherein the moldsmay be rapidly formed in a manner familiar .to' those skilled in the art. Dis posed directly above each series of the mold- :in'g machines is a series of sand-bins 31 whose upper or receiving ends 35 are widened out and form a practically continuous sand receiving slot extendin along the outer edge-portion of the san -tempering floor 13-, Fig. 4:. At its lower discharge ori fice each .of'the sand-bins carries a. pair of sand-valves 36 which are disposed directly above a correspondin -one of the molding machines 33 and are a apted to measure out the correct quantity of sand for the mold and allow it to fall directly onto the pattern and flask parts supported by the machine. Referring to Fig. 8,it will be seen that each of the sand-valves comprises a hollow cylindrical drum 37 axiallyof which is journaled a shaft 38 to which is secured four curved radially disposed vanes 39 dividing the drum into four equal compartments. The upper side of the drum is connected with a chute leading from a sand-bin and the lower side of said drum is formed with a discharge orifice 40. Secured to the shaft 38 is a disk 41 having four peripheral notches afiording shoulders or ratchet-teeth 42 adapted to be acted upon by the pawl 43 carried by a lever 44 fulcrumed ontheshaft 38 and connected at its free end to a pistonrod 45 carrying the piston 46 disposed withv in the pneumatic cylinder 47. Suitable airhose connections 48, at the opposite ends of the cylinder 47, permit the lever 44 tov be controlled pneumatically to advance the vanes 39 a quarter of a revolution and thereby carry a measured, quantity of sand to the lower side of the drum 37 from which it falls throu h the orifice 40 onto the molding machine elow.

For high grade castings it is desirable to apply a thin layer of extra fine or facing sand to the pattern before the mold is filled with the coarser molding sand. To this end a series of stands49 are placed in a row in alternating arrangement with the molding machines 33 so that an intermediate stand may be easily reached b operators of each of the two adjacent mol ing machines.

The facing sand is supplied-to the stands 49 Suitable covers 51 are placed over the upper ends of the chutes 50 to prevent the entrance of coarser sand during the operation of the travelin screw-conveyer,,to be hereinafter describe The facing sand is prepared in the usual pug-mill 52 and eentrifu l mixer 52", which are placed at one end 0 the sand tempering floor B, and is in the present instance manually conveyed to and deposited within the chutes 50.

After the molds have been formed and placed upon the mold-carriers 11 they are conveyed to the pouring station F, Fig. 1. The door of the pouring station is raised slightly, in order that the pourers may not have to elevate the heav ladies to an inordinate height, and is ormed with a pit 53 within which is disposed the mechanism for supporting and. driving a pair of moving platforms. 54, 54 arranged one at each side of the central vertical .plane of the mold-conveyer. As these platforms are precisely similar, a description of one will suffice. Referring to Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 7, the

'59 and are adapted to run on the rails 60 supported by suitable cross-beams 61 sustained within the pit 53. A pair of idler sprocket-wheels 62 for the link-belts 59 is disposed at one end of the rails 60 and serve to carry the' gratings from the lower to the upper level of the moving platform. A pair of driving sprockets 63, disposed at the other end of the rails 60, are fixed to a driving shaft 63' which is slowly rotated by means of suitable gearing 64 driven by a motor, not shown. The ratios of the gearing and speed of the motor are so chosen that the moving platform travels at substantially the same speed as the mold-carriers 11. The pouring equipment further comprises hand ladles such as 66, which may be filled with molten metal from the trucks 67.

The poured molds, while cooling, travel slowly up the ascending run 2 and along the upper run 3 to the shake-out station G. Operators stationed at this point remove the molds from the conveyer and dump them upon gratings 68, Figs. 2 and 12, supported at the mouths of the shake-out boxes or hoppers 69 which are disposed one at each side of the conveyer. The gratings permit the sand to fall into the hoppers 69 but retain the castings which are -to be replaced upon the'conveyer together with the mold accessories or flask parts.

Referring to Figs. 2, 9 and 12, it will'be seen that each of the shake-out hoppers 69 includes a lower section 7 O which tapers downwardly to a constricted discharge orifice 71 disposed above a sand-riddle or screening device 72. Projecting into each .of the hoppers 69 throu h a side orifice 73 belgw the mouth thereo is the lower end the exhaust-matter enters the settling chamber its velocity drops considerably and the fine particles of sand which are heavierthan air settle to the floor and may be recovered. An exhaust vent 7 8 connects the settling chamber with the outside air. The fan 76 may conveniently be driven from the countershaft 31 by a belt 7 8*.

In order that mixture of the sands used at eachside of the system may be avoided two separate mechanisms are provided, one at each side of the central vertical plane of the mold-conveyer. for screening the used sand and depositing it along the length of the sand-tempering floor in the form of two separate and distinct ridges. As these-mechanisms are of similar construction the description will be restricted to the mechanism at one side of the system.

The sand riddle 72, Figs. 10 and 12, comprises a rectangular frame-work which supports the screen 79. Two side-pieces 80, 80, and one end-piece 81 prevent spilling of the sand over the edges of the screen 79. The riddle is suspended at its four corners from the studding at the under side of the upper floor C by four flat springs 82 and is inclined to the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 12. Vibratory movements are imparted to the riddleby means of the eccentrics 83, 83,

which are connected through the links 8-1,"

84, to the opposite ends of the cross-bar 85 extending transversely of and secured beneath the frame-work of the riddle. The eccentrics 83 are mounted on the shaft 86 which is driven from the countershaft 31 by a belt 87. The sand. in falling through the hopper 69 onto the riddle 72 usually breaks up into its original condition of fineness and passes through the screen 79. Anypieces of iron or hardened lumps of sand which remain on the screen find their way to the lowe end thereof and fall into the chute 88 which leads to a scrap heap. Disposed below the riddle 7 2 is a second hopper 89 having its reduced lower discharge orifice 90 disposed very close to the upper surface of a horizontally disposed conveyerbelt 91. The frontside wall 92' of the hopper 89, Fig. 9', is fitted with a sliding gate 93 and operating handle 94 to regulate the thickness ofthe layer of sand carried away pulley 100, respectively. The driving pul ley 99 is secured to the shaft 101 which carries the gear-wheel 102 meshing with the pinion 103 on the countershaft 104 which is driven by the belt 105 from the countershaft 86. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it At its opposite ends the belt will be seen that the conveyer-belt extends lengthwise of the intermediate floor B and is supported some distance above the latter.

In order that the sand, which is carried away from the shake-out. station by the beltconveyer, may be deposited in the form of a ridge extending lengthwise of the floor B, a traveling plow or scraper is arranged to move slowly back-and-forth along the length of the upper or loaded side of the belt 91. As shown best in Fig. 13, this plow comprises a rectangular frame-work 106 supported at its four corners by wheels 107 running on the track 108 and fitted with a diagonally extending scraper-blade 109. A belt-supporting platform 110 is hung from the frame-work 106 by means of straps 111 and the upper surface of said platformv is spaced below the lower edge of the blade 109 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the belt 91. The platform 110 serves to hold the loaded belt 91 close to the blade 109. Without this platform the belt would sag between the rollers 95 and would not be scraped clean by said blade. A diagonally disposed brush 112 is supported at the rear of the blade 109 by suitable bars 113 secured to the frame-work 106 and serves to brush oif any sand which may escape the action of said blade.

Extending above and longitudinally of the-path of movement of the plow are three parallel spaced beams 114 to the lower surfaces of which are secured three flat. metal strips 115 which are somewhat wider than the beams 114 and define two parallel slots 116 between them. These spacedmetal strips are adapted to support the two parallel runs of an endless'chain 117 which is suspended at intervals from a series of short crosspieces 118 adapted to bridge the slotsf116' and slide alongthe strips 115. The chain 117,- Figs. 10 and 12, runs. around the idlersprocket 119 and driving sprocket 120 which latteris carried by a vertical shaft 121 connected by beveled gears 122 with a countershaft 123 which is, driven through the spurgears 124 and worm-gearing 125 by a counwhich is belt-connected to a reversely step tershaft 126 carrying the stepped pulley 127:

. 115 pulley 128 secured to the countershaft 86. A

coupling bar 129, Fig. 13, pivoted to the frame-work 106 at and pivotally connected to the chain 117 by a depending pin 131 serves to transmit the slow motion of the chain to the plow. 'During the travel of the" pin 131 about either one of the isprockets119;

120, the coupling bar 129 merely swings about the pivot 130 as the motion of the plow reverses.

It is obvious that as the sand upon the belt 91 strikes the diagonal blade 109 it will aerated and cooled in very much the same manner as when tossed in a spray from one heap to another in the well known process of hand tempering with a shovel commonly eming quantities of water from the hose h, thequantity of water supplied depending upon the observed condition of the sand and the temper desired for the class of work in hand.

The sand after lying in this condition for a sufficient length of time to complete the cooling process and allow the water to soak into and permeate the sand mass, is moved outwardly across the floor and into the .open slot formed by the contiguous mouths of the sand-bins 34 by a screw-conveyer, Figs. 18, 19 and 20, comprising a spiral blade 132 secured to a shaft 133 whose reduced extremities are journaled in bearings 134 sustained by the depending hanger members 135 carried by the traveling frame 136 provided with flanged supporting wheels 137 which are adapted to run' on either of the parallel track-ways 138, "139, extending lengthwise of the intermediate floor B. The shaft 133 extends crosswise of the floor and is supported so that the free edge portion of the spiral blade 132 just clears said floor. At its outer end the shaft 133 carries the sprocket 140 which is connected by a chain 141 to a driving sprocket 142 secured to a countershaft 143 which is connected by spur gears 144 to a suitable motor 145, the direction of rotation and speed of which may be controlled by the usual controller 146.

The supporting frame 136 of the screwconveyer may be propelled along the trackways 138 and 139 by means of a second independently controlled motor 147 which is connected by suitable speed-reducing spur-gears '148- to a countershaft 149-carrying a worm 150 meshing with a worm-wheel 151 secured to a countershaft 152 carrying a sprocket 153 which is connected by a chain 154 to a second sprocket 155 secured to the shaft 156 which is journaled lengthwise of the frame 136 and carries-at its opposite ends a pair of the supporting wheels 137. The electric current for o crating the motors 145, 147, maybe supplied through two parallel ,trolley wires one of which is shown at 157, Fig.

1. Either ofthe two trolley poles 158, 158,!

each carryingconductors, not shown, serves to connect thetrolley wires 157. to the motor circuits in the-usual manner.

In the present instance, a transfer device T is installed at one end of the tracks 138, 139, in order that the single 'screw-conveyer shown may be shifted from one to the other side of the tempering floor. This transfer device may comprise a horizontally. disposed rectangular upper frame-work 160 to one system deposited end of which is secured a bearing ring 161 surrounding the fixed pivot post 162 and supported by the stepped collar 163 which is bolted to the pivot post 162 at 164. A channel iron 165 extends transverselyof and beneath the frame-work 160 at a point remote from the pivot post 162 and issuspended at its opposite ends from a semi-circular I-beam 166 by means of a pair of rods 167 depending from the trolley trucks 168. The I-beam 166 is secured to the under side of a suitably constructed frame-work 169, Figs. 4 and 19.

Depending from the end of the frame 160 adjacent .the post 162 is a vertically disposed end frame-work 170 formed with a rail-supporting ledge 171 and carrying at its lower end a guide-ring 172which sur rounds the post 162. Depending from the opposite end of the upper frame-work 160 n is an outer endframe-work 174 carrying-at,

thus be run onto the transfer device T and readily swung around from one to the 'othe of the adjacent track-ways. I

In the operation ofthe above described system, the mold-conveyer is driven at a uniform slow speed by the sprockets 28,28. The molds are formed in the various molding machines 33, in the usual manner, and are carried toand carefully deposited upon the trays 14 of the mold-carriers 11. As the molds are usually uite heavy the workmen may frequentl nd it" convenient to steady themselves by leaning; against the carriers 11 while'placin'g the molds thereon. If the carriers were free to swing it would 'be a difiicult matter to place a heavy-mold thereon without subjecting it, to destructive jarring. As the carriers 11 of the present constructionare rigidly held in a horizontal plane, while traveling along the horizon-' w tal runs, this difiiculty is overcome. As is natural, the molds formed at one side of the upon'the same side 'of e mold-conveyer. 1 I As the filled trays l4-jslowly pass the pouring station F the ladlers, standingupon the moving latform' ,54, ipourthe molds from hand la les'whi'ch-may be refilled with moltengmetalj from the trucks or buggy- -.ladles 67. Since the latforms 54 travel at the same speed as t e :rigidly supported mold-carriers the 'ositions of the pourers relative to the moi The molds may. therefore be poured with the same ease and precision as when resting upon the floor. If the carriers were free to swing while passing the pouring station the pouring operation would become extremely diflicult and uncertain. Much metal d-carriers remain fixed would be spilled as the powers attempted to direct the streams of molten metal from the ladles into the spine holes of the swinging molds. With the present arrangement, a pourer, if heso desires, may place one foot uponthe tray 14 and steady the heavy ladle by resting the handle thereof upon his knee.

While the poured molds are traveling up the ascending run 2- and along the upper horizontal run 3 the metal cools 'sufliciently to soldify. When the molds reachthe shake-out station G they are removed from the conveyer by workmen stationed at this point and dumped onto the gratings 68 of the shake-out hoppers 69. The sand falls through the gratings leaving the flask parts and castings behind to be replaced upon the conveyer for transit to the lower floor. As is natural, the molds at one side of the conveyer are dumped onto the grating 68 at the same side. There is, therefore, no tendency for the sand used at one side of the system to be diverted to the other side at this point. While the castings and mold accessories, usual in foundry practice, are traveling down'the descending run 4 of the mold-conveyer, they form a counterpoise for the like parts traveling u the ascending run at the opposite end, oft e building. As a result, the driving motor M is drawn upon to supply merely enough power to: overcome the friction of the system and elevate the sand in the molds from the lower to the up er floor.

aving thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is v 1. In a foundry machine, an endless carrier having a horizontal run whereon, the.

molds are placed and poured, a vertical upward run whereon. they are elevated to a higher floor, a second horizontal run whereon themolds are removed and shaken out,

- and a vertical downward run Whereon the flasks and castings are lowered, forming a counterpoiseto the flasks andcastings on the vertical upward run.

2. Ina foundry system, in combination, I a molding floor, a series of "molding. ma-- chines and a pouring equipment on-"said molding floor, an endless conveyer... having four runs substantially in the same vertical plane, the lower horlzontal run bein ad-v jacent to said series of molding mac ines and the pouring equipment, an upper floor a device adapted to actsuccessive y toniove different" parts of the distributed mixture, and means whereby said mixt u-re 'is delivered from the sand tempering floor to the molding floor below.

3 parts of 3. In a foundry system, in combination, a lower floor, an upper floor, a series of molding machines and a pouring equipment, a conveyer having a lower horizontal run adjacent the series of molding machines and the pouring equipment, and an upper horizontal run, a shake-out equipment at the upper run, an intermediate floor whereon the sand and water are homogenized, a conveyer whereby the shaken-out sand is diswetting the sand, means whereby the sand is delivered from the intermediate to the lower floor, and a traveling screw-conveyer adapted to act successively on different parts of the sand distributed along the intermediate floor to transfer it to said delivering means.

4. In a foundry system, in combination, a lower, an upper and an intermediate floor, a series of molding machines and a pouring equipment at the lower floor, an endless mold conveyer having a lower horizontal run at the lower floor adjacent the molding machines and pouring equipment, a vertical upward run leading to the upper floor, a horizontal run at the upper floor, and a vertical downward run, leading to the lower floor, a shake-outtiuipment at the upper fio'or, means for conveyingthe sand away from the shake-out equipment and depositing it along the intermediate floor, a sand tempering equipment at the intermediate floor, and means for conveying the tempered sand to the molding machines,

5. ,In a foundry machine, an endless carrierhavinga base portion. traveling horizontally and upon which the molds are placed-and poured,',a vertical upward i run whereon they are elevated to 'a higher floor, a second horizontal .run from which'the 'moldsare removed and shaken out, and avertical downward run' whereon the cast: mgs-and-mold accessories are lowered and 'tributed on the intermediate floor, means for form a counterpoise .for the correspondingthe filledmolds in their upwar travel.

6. In a continuous foundry system, in

combination, lower and upper floors, an end 'less conveyer traveling in a rectangular path and including lower and .upper horizontal runs'disposed at saidlower and upper floors,

respectively, mold forming: equipment 5 :at

' the lower .floor beside the lower run, pour- 'ing equipment at the :lowerflfioor between the mold-forming equipment] andrithe ascending run, shake-out "equipr. er t at the upper floor beside the upper horizontal run,

and means for driving said conveyer continuously. v r

.7. In a cont nuous foundry system, in

' combinatiomlower and upper floors, an endless co'nveyer travellng in a rectangular path and includin lower and upper horizontal runs dispose atsaid lower and upper floors.

respectively, and further including ascending and descending runs, mold-forming equipment at the lower floor adjacent the lower horizontal run, pouring equipment at the lower floor between the mold-forming equipment and the ascending run, and shake-out equipment at the upper floor adjacent that end-portion of the upper horizontal run which joinsthe descending run.

8. In a continuous foundry system, in combination, lower and upper floors, an endless conveyer traveling in a rectangular path and including lower and upper horizontal runs disposed at said lower and upper floors, respectively, and further including ascending and descending runs, mold-forming equipment at the lower floor adjacent the lower horizontal.run, pouring equipment at the lower floor adjacent that end-portion of the lower horizontal run which joins the ascending run, shake-out equipment at the upper floor adjacent that end-portion of the upper horizontal run which joins the descending run, a sand tempering floor between said lower and upper floors and between said ascending and descending runs, means for distributing the sand from the shake-out equipment along the sand tempering floor, and means whereby the tempered sand may be delivered to the lower floor.

9. In a foundry system, in combination, a lower floor, an upper floor, mold-forming and pouring equipments on the lower floor, an endless conveyer having a lower hori-' zontal run adjacent the mold-forming and pouring equipments, an upward run leading to the upper floor, an upper horizontal run, and a vertical downward run, said conveyer including a series of suspended mold-carriers and means for restraining saidcarriers against swinging while passing through a portion of its horizontal travel.

10. In a foundry system, in combination,

a lower floor, an upper floor, mold-forming and pouring equipments onthe lower floor, an endless conveyer having a lower horizontal run adjacent the mold-forming and pouring equipments,'an upward run'lead ing to the upper floor, an upper horizontal run, and a vertical downward run, said conveyer including a series of suspended moldcarriers, and means for restraining said carriers against swinging while passing'the mold-forming and'pouring equipments.

11. In a foundry system, in combination, a lower floor, an upper floor, mold-forming and pouring equipments on the lower floor, an endless conveyer including suspended carriers and having a lower horizontal run adjacent the mold-forming and pouring equipments, said conveyer also having ascending and descending runs leading to and from said upper floor, said pouring equip ment including a moving platform parallel-- ing a portion of the horizontal run, and

means for maintaining the suspended carriers in fixed angular relation with said platform while passing the latter. I

12. In a foundry system, in combination, a building frame-work including lower, intermediate and upper floors, an endless conveyer disposed in a vertical plane and having horizontal runs at the lower and upper floors, a series of molding machines and a pouring equipment at the lower floor, a shake-out equipment at the up er floor, a sand tempering equipment at t e intermediate fioor, means forconducting the tempered sand to the molding machines, means on said intermediate floor for preparing facing sand, and chutes for conducting the preparing facing sand from the intermediate floor to readily accessible positions between adjacent molding machines.

13. In a foundry system, in combination, a lower molding floor, an endless conveyer disposed in a vertical plane and having a horizontal run at said lower-floor, a series of molding machines disposed in a. row along said floor, a sandtempering floor above said molding floor, means for preparing molding and facing sands on said sand temperin floor, a series of chutes for conducting t e molding sand from the tempering floor to positions directly above their respective molding machines, and a second series of chutes arranged in alternation with the chutes of the first mentionedseries for conducting the facing sand to readily acces sible' stations between adjacent molding machines.

14. A duplex foundry system comprising, in combination, an endless conveyer. disposed substantially in a vertical plane, said conveyer having a. lower horizontal run whereon the molds are placed and poured and acomplement of mold-forming, pouring, shake-out and sand temperin equipments at each side of said vertical p ane and adjacent said conveyer.

15.-In a duplex foundry system, in combination, a frame-work including lower, upper and intermediate floors, an endless moldconveyer having a horizontal run at the lower floor, a vertical upward run, a horizont-al run at the upper floor and a vertical downward run, a mold-forming equipment at each side of said conveyer on the first floor, a ouring equipment on the first floor, two sha e-out equipments at the third floor, one at each side of the conveyer,two sand conveyers one at each side of the vertical plane of said mold-conveyer for conveyin sand from the shake-out equipments and distributing it along said intermediate floor, a sand temperin equipment available at each side of'said intermediate floor, and means available at each side of. said plane for conducting the tempered sand outwardly and downwardly to the molding machines.

it. A homogenizing apparatus for foundry sand which consists in a homogenizing floor, a conveyer for depositing and distributing the sand thereon, a wetting equipment, and an apparatus moving over the floor whereby the sand undergoing homogenizing 1s repeatedly put in motion and pernutted to rest intermittently.

17. A homogenizing apparatus for reused foundry sand from the shake-out apparatus which consists, in combination, of a floor whereon the sand is distributed for cooling, exhaling, wetting, resting and conveyance, a manually controlled wetting equipment, a mechanically operated but manually controlled conveyer, and mechanism whereby it is moved over the floor at manually controlled intervals whereby the periods of rest and motion of the sand are manually determined.

18. A homogenizing apparatus for reused foundry sand comprising, in combination, a shake-out hopper, a riddle disposed below said hopper, a horizontal belt conveyer dis posed below said riddle, an elongated homogenizing floor extending lengthwise of and below said belt, a plow for scraping the sand from said belt and ermitting it to fall to said floor, means or moving said plow back-and-forth along the length of said belt, a series of storage bins disposed below and at one side of said floor, a wetting equipment, and a screw conveyer bodily movable lengthwise of said floor for moving the wetted sand transversely into said bins.

19. in a homogenizing apparatus for reused foundry sand, in combination, a hopper which receives the used sand from the riddle, said hopper having a lower discharge orifice, an endless belt conveyer running under and spaced slightly below said discharge orifice, means for distributing the sand upon the belt conveyer in a relatively thin layer of uniform thickness, a homogenizing floor disposed below said belt conveyer, and a plow movable lengthwise of said belt for scraping the sand therefrom and permitting it to fall to said floor in the form of a thin sheet.

20. in a homogenizing apparatus for reused foundry sand, in combination, a hoper which receives the used sand from the riddle, said hopper having a lower discharge orifice, an endless belt conveyer running under and spaced slightly below said discharge orifice, means for distributing the sand upon the belt conveyer in a relatively thin sheet, a homogenizing floor disposed below said belt conveyer, a low moving constantly back-and-forth albng the active length of said belt conveyer for scraping the sand therefrom, and means for driving said conveyer and plow at relatively difi'erential speeds.

21. in a homogenizing apparatus for re used foundry sand, in combination, a ho mogenizing floor, an endless belt-conveyer extending above and lengthwise of said floor, means for depositing the used sand upon said conveyer and a. movable device for scraping the sand from said conveyer and permitting it to fall to said floor.

22. In a homogenizing apparatus for reused foundry sand, in combination, a shakeout equipment including a hopper, a sand riddle stationed below said hopper, a horizontal belt-conveyer stationed below said riddle, a homogenizing floor below said beltconveyer, and a movable device for scraping the sand from said belt-conveyer and allowing it to fall to .said floor.

23. In a homogenizing apparatus for foundry sand, in combination, an homogenizing floor, means supported above said floor for depositing the used sand along the length thereof, a series of storage bins disposed below and at one side of said floor, and an apparatus movable bodily. lengthwise of said floor for moving the sand widthwise of said floor and into said storage bins.

Qet. In a homogenizing apparatus for foundry sand in combination, an homogenizing floor, means supported above said floor for depositing the used sand along the length thereof, a series of storage bins disposed below and at one side of said floor, a wetting equipment, and a rotary screwconveyer mounted for bodily movement transversely of it axis and lengthwise of said floor for conveying the sand across the floor and into said bins.

25. A sand distributing apparatus for continuous foundry systems comprising, in combination, an overhead endless belt-com veyer, means whereby the used sand. from the shake-out equipment is. fed onto said conveyer, a plow having a blade extending at an inclination to and adjacent said belt, and means whereby said plow may be-moved along the length of said belt, whereby the sand scraped from the belt may be distributed along the floor beneath.

26. Sand conveying mechanism for continuous foundry systems comprising, a sand supporting floor, a screw-conveyer, a frame in which said conveyer is journaled with its axis parallel with said floor, -supporting wheels for said frame, means for propelling said frame, and means for driving said conveyer.

27. Sand conveying mechanism for continuous foundry systems comprising, a sand supporting floor, a traveling frame suported above said floor, a screw-conveyer ournaled in said frame with its axis substantially parallel with said floor, means for propelling said frame and means independent of said propelling means fordriving said conveyer.

28. Sand conveying mechanism for con tinucus foundry systems comprising, a sand supporting floor, a traveling frame supported above said floor, a screW-conveyer journaled in said frame with its axis substantially parallel with said floor, manually controlled means for propelling said frame and manually controlled meansindependent of said propelling means for driving said conveyer.

29. In a foundry system, a transfer device for a traveling sand conveyer comprising a pivot post, a semi-circular overhead track su ported concentrically with said post, a wheeled trolley-truck adapted to run on said track, a frame supported at one end by said post and suspended at another point from said truck, and a short track-way carried by said frame and adapted to support the vehicle during transfer.

30. In a foundry system, a device for transferring a traveling sand conveyer from one to another of two adjacent and parallel track-ways comprising, a pivot post disposed midway between and at the end of said track-ways, a semi-circular track supported concentrically with said post, a truck adapted to run on said semi-circular track,

a frame supported at one end by said pivot copies of this patent may be obtained for post, said frame being supported by said truck at a point spaced from said post, and track-ways carried by and extending transversely of said frame, said track-ways being on the same side of said post and adapted to register with either of said parallel track.- ways.

31. In a foundry system, a device for transferring a traveling sand conveyer from one to another of two adjacent and parallel track-ways comprising, a pivot post disposed midway between and at the end of said track-ways, a semi-circular overhead track supported concentrically with said post, a truck adapted to run on said semicircular track, a frame supported at one end by said pivot post, said frame being suspended from said truck at a point spaced from said post, and track-ways carried by and extending transversely of said frame, said track-ways being on the same side of said post and adapted to register with either of said parallel track-ways.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification OLIVER L. DOSCH.

ave cents each, by addressing the "Communion: at Pateata, 'Waahiagtoa, D. 0. 

